Blood detecting device

ABSTRACT

A blood detecting device including an elongated, flexible tape member comprising an electrical insulating member supporting a pair of electrical conductors connected to a circuit including a source of electrical energy and an electrically energized signal for application to an area likely to be exposed to the flow of blood, such as the body of a human or animal or to conduits of blood in blood handling apparatus.

United States Patent [1 1 Clipp '[111' 3,832,993 Sept. 3, 1974 [5 1BLOOD DETECTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Wendell V. Clipp, 900 RobertsonAcademy Rd., Nashville, Tenn. 37220 [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 288,501

[52] US. Cl. 128/2 R, 128/138 A [51] Int. Cl A61b 5/00 [58] Field ofSearch l28/2.1 R, 2 R, 340, 235,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,232 8/1930 Van Guilder128/138 A X 2,907,841 10/1959 Campbell 128/138'A X 3,245,068 4/1966Wegryn et a1. 128/138 A 3,530,855 9/1970 Balding 128/138 A FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 302,070 11/1917 Germany 128/138 A 1,368,8846/1964 France l28/2.l R

Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney, Agent, or Firm-HarringtonA. Lackey [57] ABSTRACT A blood detecting device including an elongated,flexible tape member comprising an electrical insulating membersupporting a pair of electrical conductors connected to a circuitincluding a source of electrical energy and an electrically energizedsignal for application to an area likely to be exposed to the flow ofblood, such as the body of a human or animal or to conduits of blood inblood handling apparatus.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures BLOOD DETECTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring now to the drawingsin more detail, the

This invention relates to a blood detecting device, 5 blood-detectingdevice made in accordance with and more particularly to an electricalblood detecting devide.

Heretofore, the detection of bleeding in human or animal patients, orthe leakage of blood from bloodhandling apparatus, has been detected byhuman observation. One particular need for such detection is in theprocess known as dialysis of patients having kidney failure. Suchdetection is necessary, not only upon the bandaged areas of thepatients, but also upon the various conduits and joints handling theflow of blood in the dialysis machines. The dialysis process is only oneexample of numerous situations in which the automatic detection of bloodis needed. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a blood-detecting device including a insulating membersupporting a pair of spaced conductors which form an open switch in anelectrical circuit including an electrical energy source, such as abattery, and an electrically this invention includes an electricalinsulating material, which may be permeable to the flow of blood, suchas a flexible sheet of textile fabric in the form of an elongated gauzebandage strip 11. In FIG. 1, the gauze bandage strip 11 is long enoughto be wrapped about the forearm 12 of a human patient to cover anincision or wound from which bleeding would be likely to occur. Thegauze bandage 11 may be wrapped upon itself and secured by anyconvenient means, such as adhesive tape 13. Bandage clips may also beused if desired.

Fixed to the gauze bandage 11 by any convenient means, such as anadhesive, to form an elongated, flexible tape member, are a pair ofelectrical conductors in the form of aluminum foil strips 14 and 15.These foil strips 14 and 15 are parallel to each other on one surface ofthe bandage strip 11 and spaced apart sufficiently that there will be noelectrical contact between the conductors 14 and lSso long as thebandage 11 is dry. As disclosed in FIG. 1, the conductor strips 14 andenergized signal means of any type whether visual or audible. When theinsulating member is secured in a position where it is exposed to theflow of blood, the liquid blood bridges the open gap between theconductors. Since blood is an electrolyte, it electrically closes orshort-circuits the conductors to energize the signal means to warn ofthe presence of blood.

The insulating material may be any type of material which supports theconductors in spaced relationship, and preferably which is non-toxic.Preferably, the permeable insulating material should be a flexiblefabric, such as cloth or a bandage, so that it may conform to the areaexposed to the possible flow of blood, such as the limb of a human oranimal patient or a blood tube, upon which the flexible insulatingmember may be wrapped, or otherwise secured.

The electrical conductors may be in the form of small aluminum stripswhich may be secured by adhesive to a flexible bandage or other type ofinsulating fabric.

The signal means and the electrical voltage supply may be small enoughto be portable, or even small enough to be secured directly to thepatient, or they may be large and sophisticated enough to form thecomponents of an electronic monitoring system for an entire hospital.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the invention .in which the signalmeans is a central alarm system; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

15 extend the entire length of the bandage 11.

One end of the conductor 14 is connected to an electrode 16, while oneend of the conductor 15 is .connected to an electrode 17. Bothelectrodes 16and 17 are connected in the electrical circuit 18.Connected in series in the electrical circuit 18 is a source ofelectrical energy, such as battery 19, and an electrically energizedsignal member, such as the electric lamp 20, in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, thebattery 19 and the lamp 20 are small enough, that is sufficientlyminiaturized, that both may be secured to the forearm 12 adjacent thebandage 11 by a securing member, such as adhesive tape 21.

Thus, assuming that a medical patient recovering from surgery in ahospital room has an open wound in his forearm subject to possiblebleeding, then the device 10 is applied to the forearm 12 as illustratedin FIG. 1. Bandage 11 is wrapped around the forearm covering the woundand secured by adhesive tape 13, or other securing means. If theelectrodes 16 and 17 are detachable, they are connected into the circuit18 and to the conductors l4 and 15. The battery 19 and lamp 20 are alsosecured to the forearm 12 by the adhesive tape 21.

If the patient is awake, but is so anesthetized that he would normallynot feel blood flowing from his wound,

. and particularly if the wound was on the backside of his conductors 14and 15, thereby closing the circuit 18' and energizing the lamp 20. Theilluminated lamp 20 would call the patients attention to his situation,and he could immediately depress the call-buttonto summon a nurse toremedy the bleeding.

If the patient is asleep, the illuminated lamp 20 could be observed by anurse making her rounds of the rooms. It is also possible that the heatfrom the illuminated lamp 20 might be great enough upon the patientsforearm 12 to awaken the patient and alert him to the bleeding.

FIG. 2 discloses a modified detecting device 30 including all of theelements of the device 10 except that a bell 24 has been substituted forthe lamp 20. The bell 24 could be small enough to be mounted on thepatients arm in a manner similar to the device in FIG. 1, or it could bea larger bell adapted to be mounted in any position where it could beheard by the patient, or by the nurse. The bell 24 could even be locatedat a remote location for centralized monitoring.

The circuit 18 could also be energized by the substitution of anelectrical connector, in place of the battery 19, which could beinserted in a mating receptor in the existing house circuit. Of course,if the house circuit is A.C., then a transformer must be included in thecircuit 18 in order to convert the AC. current to DC. current if thesignal member is D.C.-operated.

F IG. 4 discloses a modified detector 40 in which any type of centralalarm system 25 is substituted for the lamp 20 or the bell 24 formonitoring at a remote station. Also, in the device 40, the conductorsl4 and 15' (FIG. 5) are fixed on opposite sides or faces of the gauzesheet 11 so that the conductors l4 and 15' are separated only by thethickness of the bandage 11 to form an elongated, flexible tape member.Of course, the conductors l4 and 15 could be staggered on opposite sidesof the bandage 11 to increase the spacing between conductors to make itless sensitive.

The detecting device 10 would also be adaptable for applying to woundson animals so that any bleeding of the animal could be detected byvisual or audible means, even when the animal is not in the immediatevicinity of its master or the veterinarian.

The flexible insulating member 11 could be of any other materialadaptable for wrapping conduits or tubes through which blood flows inmachines or apparatus adapted for the handling of blood, such as adialysis machine. A detector device, such as 10, could be positioned inareas of particular vulnerability, such as connecting joints which mightaccidentally become loosened, or about blood tubes in which the wallsare unusually thin to detect possible rupture of the tube. Such deviceswould be invaluable for blood-handling machines, such as dialysismachines, where they are installed in the home, and where only limitedpersonnel are available for observing and monitoring the machine.

Devices such as 10, 30 and 40 could also be applied to blood containersat sensitive or vulnerable points to leakage, in storage or in actualuse.

It will also be understood that numerous types of sig- I 4 nal devicescould be used in addition to electric lamps and bells, such as varioustypes of electronic soundernitting devices, or an electrically energizedshocking device to be applied to some portion of the patients body toprovide a stimulating warning.

It is also important that all of the components, particularly theinsulating member, conductors and electrodes be sterile and non-toxic toblood.

What is claimed is:

l. A blood detecting device comprising:

a. an elongated, flexible tape member, the length of said tape memberbeing substantially greater than its width, and said tape member beinglong enough and flexible enough to wrap spirally around the limb of apatient or a blood tube,

b. said tape member comprising an elongated, flexible, electricalinsulating strip of substantially uniform width, relatively thin, andhaving opposite faces,

c. said tape member further comprising a pair of elongated, flexible,electrical conductor strips of substantially uniform width, ofsubstantially the same length as said insulating strip, and impermeableto fluids,

d. adhesive means permanently fixing said conductor strips on theopposite faces of, and longitudinally coextensive with, said insulatingstrip, so that said conductor strips are spaced opposite each other andare separated only by the thickness of said insulating strip,

e. said conductor strips having first longitudinal edges in alignmentalong the thickness of said insulating strip, and second longitudinaledges in alignment along the thickness of said insulating strip, each ofsaid edges being adjacent and spaced apart a distance not exceeding saidthickness,

f. electrically energizable signal means connected to said conductorstrips,

g. means for supplying an electrical voltage across said conductorstrips, and

h. means for securing said tape member wrapped about the limb of apatient or a blood tube, likely to be exposed to the flow of blood, sothat the presence of blood between the aligned longitudinal edges ofsaid conductor strips will short-circuit said conductor strips toenergize said signal means. =l

1. A blood detecting device comprising: a. an elongated, flexible tapemember, the length of said tape member being substantially greater thanits width, and said tape member being long enough and flexible enough towrap spirally around the limb of a patient or a blood tube, b. said tapemember comprising an elongated, flexible, electrical insulating strip ofsubstantially uniform width, relatively thin, and having opposite faces,c. said tape member further comprising a pair of elongated, flexible,electrical conductor strips of substantially uniform width, ofsubstantially the same length as said insulating strip, and impermeableto fluids, d. adhesive means permanently fixing said conductor strips onthe opposite faces of, and longitudinally coextensive with, saidinsulating strip, so that said conductor strips are spaced opposite eachother and are separated only by the thickness of said insulating strip,e. said conductor strips having first longitudinal edges in alignmentalong the thickness of said insulating strip, and second longitudinaledges in alignment along the thickness of said insulating strip, each ofsaid edges being adjacent and spaced apart a distance not exceeding saidthickness, f. electrically energizable signal means connected to saidconductor strips, g. means for supplying an electrical voltage acrosssaid conductor strips, and h. means for securing said tape memberwrapped about the limb of a patient or a blood tube, likely to beexposed to the flow of blood, so that the presence of blood between thealigned longitudinal edges of said conductor strips will short-circuitsaid conductor strips to energize said signal means.